Kristina Morris outlines experience in bid for Auglaize County judge

On Spectrum, Kristina Morris said she is seeking the Auglaize County Common Pleas Court judgeship that includes the Domestic Relations, Juvenile and Probate divisions. Those divisions are currently led by Judge Mark E. Spees, according to Auglaize County court listings.

Speaking with host Kevin Sandler, Morris said she has spent more than 20 years working in law involving children and families. Morris said she is Auglaize County born and raised, graduated from New Bremen High School, first worked as a teacher, and later earned her law degree before moving into family and juvenile law.

Morris said that experience has included work in federal court, Montgomery County Juvenile Court, more than a decade in private practice, service as an assistant prosecutor in Shelby County, and the last several years on the bench as a magistrate in Shelby County. Her campaign website identifies her as the current magistrate for the Shelby County Common Pleas Court and says she previously served as an assistant prosecutor and spent more than 12 years in private practice.

During the interview, Morris said that background has given her experience in nearly every area handled by the Auglaize County court, including divorce, custody, probate, adoption, guardianship, domestic violence, child support and juvenile cases. She said those cases often involve families facing some of the hardest moments of their lives and require both compassion and a firm understanding of the law.

Morris told Sandler that juvenile cases in particular demand a balance of accountability and support. She said the goal should be to help young people understand the seriousness of their actions while also connecting them and their families with community resources that can help keep them from returning to court later.

She also said domestic relations cases often require courts to help guide families toward compromise before a case ever reaches trial. Morris said her background as a family law attorney, mediator and judicial officer has helped her understand how to move people toward workable agreements, especially in emotionally difficult cases involving children.

On the probate side, Morris said the court handles matters ranging from wills and estates to guardianships and adoptions. She said she believes people are usually more satisfied when they can make informed decisions for themselves before a judge has to step in as the final decision maker.

Morris is running for the Auglaize County Common Pleas Court seat in the May 5, 2026 Republican primary, according to her campaign website. During the interview, she said voters should view the race as an important decision for the county’s future because of the court’s long term impact on children, families and vulnerable residents.